some prick from a bike shop

I work in a busy shop in 'burque, and we deal with a big chunk of the biking public
here . I won't say who I work for because I'm not speaking for my employer. This
is just a little advice to bike owners from a mechanic. I offer it in the hope that we
might both have a better business experience.

1. BRING YOUR BIKE/RIDER. If you do this, no one has to play 20 questions and
guess what's wrong with the bike, or how much it will cost to fix, or whether this
or that gadget or accessory will fit. If you think it's a pain in the ass to bring your
bike or rider imagine what a pain in the ass it will be to come back in a day or two
and wait in line to return a part or bike that didn't fit. Happens EVERY DAY at the
shop I work at.

2. PICK A REASONABLE TIME/TIMEFRAME. If you want on-the-spot repairs, don't
pick 5 o'clock on a Friday to come to the bike shop. A whole lot of people get off
work between about 5 and 6, and that makes a bike shop a pretty busy place at
that hour. You will probably have to wait in line, and you probably will have to
leave your bike at least overnight, perhaps for days or weeks depending on what's
needed. If you don't have time for that, I'm sorry, but that's not my fault. A bike
shop that never has a line at the cash register and always has time to fiddle with
whatever horrorshow bike you bring in is a shop that isn't doing much business. If
nobody else is doing business with them, there might be a reason why. Good
service usually comes with a waiting list because lots of people like good service.

3. UNDRESS AND BATHE YOUR BIKE! If your bike is encrusted with commuter
accessories like panniers, underseat bags, pumps, lights, bells, whistles, horns,
dildoes (dildos? Sex toy spelling isn't my strong suit; I'm a mechanic), it's harder
to put your bike on a workstand and harder to tune or repair. If your bike is
encrusted with road gunk, it's ALSO harder to tune or repair. A clean, or at least
cleanISH bike is a joy to work on and likely to recieve a lot more love and attention
from a mechanic than a rolling greaseball.

4. BE REACHABLE BY PHONE DURING BUSINESS HOURS. The best way to get
your bike back ASAP is to be available to answer questions and authorize parts
purchases. If you leave me a message line, I'll leave a message, but do nothing
more to your bike until I hear from you and move on to another bike.

5. IF THERE'S A LINE, WAIT PATIENTLY OR LEAVE. Don't wait impatiently and
then act like a dick when you get to the front of the line if you want the best
possible service. I hate lines, too. I'm sorry you had to wait in one, but it's not my
fault that there are more of you than us. If something you paid for isn't working
out, I'm sorry, but I'm just a guy trying to make a living here. I don't own the joint.
If you're a jerk, I'll be courteous to you, but do no more for you than I have to. If
you're patient and friendly I'll go out of my way to take care of you any way I can.

We have some really great regular customers whom we know by name and bike.
They do the stuff I'm telling you about, and we remember them and show our
gratitude by giving their bikes a little extra care, maybe slipping in a new cable or
some other small part that needs replacing without charging for it. For those of
you who are always looking to get a discount on parts and service, this is how it's
done. Just be nice and easy to do business with and we'll take care of you.

Location: your local bike shop
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

I mean doesn't anyone clean up anything before service?? I clean my saws before they go in for tune ups. sure I don't have to do this.. but the shop I deal with will throw my saw to the front of the line and do quick stuff while I wait. I think it's just being nice. If you are gonna get a fork swapped you don't need to clean the whole bike.. just a quick wipe down on the front end is pretty nice. If you are gonna get your BB cleaned and lubed I would say it's nice to clean it.

Re: some prick from a bike shop

One way to avoid all this.
1.Fix your own bike!
2.Buy your own tools and save from costly bike shop repair jobs...the tools needed don't cost much and once your learn how to dial your own bike in it will run better than any bike shop mechanic could ever tune it.

It's about being reasonable. If you do take in a dirty bike (and it may be better in some situations to be dirty and dry, than wet and grimy), then you should be expecting to pay for the cleaning time, if the shop cleans it for you. I doubt whether it's a really big deal to a mechanic getting a dirty bike booked in for a full service with pick-up in a week: it's all coming apart and being cleaned anyway. To me it seems obvious that you should appreciate what your shop does for you. There are usually other shops if you don't.

If you want the quickest service, then you better be able to do your own repairs! If you want good service at a shop, then you should deal with the staff in a courteous way. If you get courteous, personal and fast service, then you are in the right shop and happy and lucky, like the owner.

When one brings in a piece of equipment for service or repair its best to help make the job a success. One can only control what they can..like a clean piece to work on. Why give something respect when no body else cares?

I have been in many houses that upon inspection one can see no repair person has given the house due respect. If the first repair person does a bad job it is more likely that others will also.

Point is bring in a piece of equipment that has been given some respect and it is more likely to be repaired with due respect.

Re: some prick from a bike shop

Avoid the lbs. This solves both the op's complaints and the customers. Why is it bike shops seem to give the impression to folks that they are doing a customer a favor by working on their bike? They are getting paid and in this day and age should be bending over backwards for the opportunity to take in money. It must be an industry niche thing and might be the same with motos or ski shops...idk. Probably any place where high dollar equipment is mostly serviced and staffed by very young people. The problem is most shop owners understand this but the 20 something year olds manning the shop have no vested interest or the maturity to get this....and I guess I can't blame them. For most bike shop owners it's a labor of love not a way to get rich. For many bike shop employees, it's just a low paying job with some perks to help fuel their hobby.

Would I take in a mud covered bike? No of course not. I also wouldn't take my lawn mower to be serviced with 4 inches of concrete-like grass plastered to the underside of it. Common sense and common courtesy go a long way to proper service. So I guess in that respect I agree with most who have posted.

You shouldn't be riding in the mud, is the solution to that. I wouldn't personally turn my bike over to anyone to work on, let alone a kid at a local bike shop. Your bike will never work well unless you service and tune it yourself.

You shouldn't be riding in the mud, is the solution to that. I wouldn't personally turn my bike over to anyone to work on, let alone a kid at a local bike shop. Your bike will never work well unless you service and tune it yourself.

One of the best times that my son has ever had on a bike was riding in the mud with you.

He still talks about to this day...

Oh, and +1. I do my own repairs when I can. Building wheels is about the only thing I have not learned how to do, myself.

Many years ago I was a wrench at a few General Motors dealerships and I was happy to have the work. I didn't care if there was a used diaper under the seat of the minivan (it happens) as long as I could flag the hours for replacing the window motor or whatever. And I didn't do work of varying quality depending on how I felt about the customer. I wasn't doing a favor, I was doing a job. It's called being professional.
The nameless bike shop wrench seems to suggest he's going to do schlock work if Fuglio brings in his spooge encrusted ride. I'm thinking he should be working at Wal-Mart putting together tricycles.
It is a privileged to work on someones bike, car, kitchen, kidney, etc. They are paying you and let's face it, it's a bike. You could fix it yourself... OK, except I can't build a wheel to save my life, but other than that, how hard is it?
The arrogant, self-inflated windbag needs a dose of reality, like, hey, you're never going to buy a house with the money you make wrenching on bikes. You'd better be going to school for some other skills... or be really good at the all night romp thing... but shower afterwards, please.